Start easy. Do a 5-minute slow walk and then a 10-minute brisk pace before adding your first hill.

Go 5 and 5. Alternate 5-minute hills with 5 minutes of level walking. Repeat as often as you like. Cool down for 5 minutes.

Inch up. You may only be able to walk a 1% incline initially. The key is to maintain the same speed during the hills as you do with no incline. Aim for a 3.5 mph speed, and keep your hills moderate; a 5% incline is a great goal, and go no more than 7%. (Steeper inclines put too much strain on your back, hips, and ankles.)